Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain”
If someone comes up to me, knowing I’m a Christian and says the name of the Lord, or God, as a swear word, it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. Lots of times I think they are just looking for a reaction. But I don’t say anything. He’s not their God. They are clueless. When they say God, it might be porn, money, bodybuilding, entrepreneurial attempts, children, spouse, home, Karl Marx, Joe Biden or a million other options, but none of them are anywhere near the One True God. Christians do the same thing in camouflage. Gosh darn, jiminy cricket, golly gee. Same spirit behind those words. When you feel the urge as a Christian, it’s better to just not say anything. No one will notice. We don’t have to nervously fill in gaps of silence by sinning. Remember, you don’t go to hell for sinning. We all sin. We go to hell for not trusting completely in Jesus’ finished work of dying for our sins and being resurrected the 3rd day. Not by saying something, just say it.
Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Remember when I said that God thundered the 10 commandments from Mt. Sinai? Millions of people heard it, not only the Israelites, but anyone who was nearby. God announced the 10 commandments to the whole world. He is showing the whole world that if you break these Ten Commandments you deserve hell. But who hasn’t said ‘gosh’? If that’s the only time you break the Ten Commandments, you still are worthy of hell fire. The 10 Commandments are like the perfect spouse. There are no 2nd chances with someone who thinks they’re perfect. There are no 2nd chances for someone who kept the 10 commandments, except for one and that is Jesus Christ! He is our 2nd and 100th and millionth chance!!
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
That’s why only Jesus could take away all my sin from me. He died for my sin, not for His own son because He was sinless. The 10 Commandments are given and written to show us that we need to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us personally. When you do that, you are saved. You are now a child of God however before, you were a Child of Satan. There are 2 types of people. Saved or not saved. Believers or not Believers. Children of God or Children of Satan. Going to heaven or hell. As a result of being a Child of God, you will want to obey Him. You will want to be a good example. And yet human nature fights you every step of the way. You deserve death for breaking the 10 commandments and yet you go to heaven even though you didn’t earn it. You got a gift that you didn’t deserve. Jesus Christ gave you that gift with his life. That’s the definition of a true spiritual gift.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Going back to using the Lord’s name in vain. Once, during hurricane Mitch, a church group I was with took a microbus. The bridge washed out and we were trapped upside down in a rising river. Death was imminent. We all had a peace that surpassed all understanding, except for one person. A truly holy moment and we were all worshipping God in spirit and truth, except for the heathen bus driver. He was commanding God to save us, and God did save most of us. But God never asks a heathen to pray. Actually, getting saved out of that carnage was a buzz kill. I have seen non-believers commanding God to do stuff. It’s almost more vulgar than using the Lord’s name as a filthy cuss word. This is one of the funniest stories about that in the Bible. Some unsaved guys used the name of Jesus to cast out a demon.
Acts 19:15-17 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Nothing worse than fighting a demon possessed man while you’re buck naked.
The correct translation for Exodus 20:7 is to not use God’s name wrongly. You can use God’s name (character as well as the Word) correctly. We do it daily. We show His nature (name) by helping those in need. We declare His actual name in everything we do. We seek to have others correctly use His name by praising Him. Help when unexpected. Food and drink. Medical help. Schooling so people praise His name. Even in witnessing and teaching we praise His name.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.